FEMA Approves Funding for Mental Health Program Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

Published May 1, 2020•Updated on May 1, 2020 at 1:45 pm

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The federal government has approved a
request from the governor for funding of a mental health program for people
affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gov. Ned Lamont said the Federal Emergency
Management Agency has approved another part of his request for federal help to
deal with the public health crisis.

The new approval includes funding for
crisis counseling under the “individual assistance” category, which his office
said will help support mental health initiatives designed to benefit
individuals affected by the pandemic.

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“This pandemic is having an impact on
nearly every segment of our society and daily lives, and that includes mental
health services,” Lamont said in a statement. “Approval in this category of aid
will mean a lot to so many people living in our state, and I appreciate FEMA’s
approval. I also thank the members of Connecticut’s Congressional delegation
who have been helping to advocate for this aid on our behalf.”

FEMA previously approved the governor’s request
for public assistance for Connecticut, allowing impacted state agencies,
municipalities, and tribal nations to be reimbursed by the federal government
for 75 percent of the costs associated with their response and emergency
protective measures.

A supplemental request from the governor to
increase that reimbursement to 100 percent is still pending.